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Our Top 10 List

There are so many places and things to see and do when on vacation on St. John . Here we made a list of 10 of our favorite things to see and do, while enjoying your vacation.

The list is in no particular order.

Relax on the Beach

The beautiful beaches seem endless on St. John, and there is nothing better than relaxing on the beach, doing absolutely nothing. There are a wide variety of beaches for every taste. Trunk Bay is the main tourist beach, and is picture postcard perfect. Jumbie beach is nearby and small, whereas Hawksnest Bay has good snorkeling opportunities and is easy to visit. You can rent kayaks and SUPS at Cinnamon Bay, Maho is calm and quiet, Waterlemon Bay has amazing snorkeling, and Oppenheimer beach is deserted (with a tire swing)!

2. Walk to Salomon Beach Right From St. John Escape

If you haven’t rented a jeep , or would rather not use a car to get to the beach, then a hike directly from St. John Escape to Salomon beach might be for you. It’s a beautiful, palm-fringed beach with turquoise water and it is just an easy mile-long hike. If you get really lucky, you might even have the beach to yourself. If you like, you can continue on to Honeymoon Beach, check it out, and then take a taxi home if you don’t feel like walking back.

3. Go Snorkeling

Even if you are not an avid snorkeler, give it a try for at least one day (warning it’s habit forming!). As with the beaches, there is snorkeling for every possible taste and level of ability. Snorkeling in the calm waters of Hawksnest Beach, or more advanced snorkleing at Haulover North or Waterlemon. No visit to St. John is complete without swimming with the sea turtles, which are usually found close to shore at either Maho, Francis, or Salt Pond.

4. Take a Hike

Even if hiking isn’t your thing, go on at least one hike during your stay on St. John. You will be amazed by the beautiful nature and wildlife. Only a few minutes walk or drive from town you can find yourself in complete wilderness. Another benefit of staying at St. John Escape, is the ability to start your hike right from our villa, such as the Caneel Hill or the Lind Point trails. Another favorite hike of ours is the Ram’s Head Trail. It is a beautiful hike which starts at the very remote East End of St. John at Salt Pond Beach. The most well-known hike on the island is arguably along the Reef Bay Trail.

5. Go Island Hopping

Why settle for a one island vacation? One of the top appeals of choosing St. John for your vacation is its proximity and convenient access to other U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Perhaps our favorite day trip is to get out to the nearby BVIs, the home of the Soggy Dollar Bar, Foxys and The Baths. There are several ways to get to the BVIs, including public ferry, by private charter of a powerboat, or on a group day sail with the larger boats. Another option is to rent a dinghy and just explore the North Shore beaches on St. John.

6. Explore the Island

Leave town and go wandering about. The best way to really see St. John is by renting a jeep, if only for a day. You don’t even have to venture far from St. John Escape to see iguanas, donkeys, deer, peacocks and the mongoose. Many historic sites and ruins like Annaberg Plantation, the old windmill at Peace Hill (one of my favorite photo ops) or the ruins at Cinnamon Bay or Caneel Bay don’t even require a long hike. The island is 9 miles of twisting and turning roads; with scenic overlooks dotting much of North Shore Road. So get out and explore!

7. Watch the Sunset

Sunsets on St. John are spectacular, the kind you will never forget. Of course you can watch them from one of the North Shore Road overlooks, from a boat during a sunset cruise, while sitting at the waterfront bars, but our hands down favorite spot is from the terrace of St. John Escape with a drink in your hand!

8. Rent a Kayak or Stand Up Paddleboard

St. John is largely undeveloped. To put some perspective on it, get out on the water and discover the stunning scenery from your kayak or SUP. There are several great kayak rental and ecotour operations on island. Yes, sitting on the beach is great but sometimes to you need to paddle out to see the true beauty of a beach from the water, plus you still get to see the underwater world.

9. Enjoy a Tropical Drink

Vacation means relaxing with a cold island cocktail, best served at one of the island’s beach bars! We recommend you try The Beach Bar, Joe’s Rum Hut, Drink, and High Tide. They all share wonderful views of Cruz Bay harbor and are only steps from St. John Escape. Or look for St John’s only floating bar, Angel’s Rest. usually anchored up in Hansen Bay. But then again, there’s always the terrace at St. John Escape!

10. Shopping

If shopping is your preferred entertainment, you won’t be disappointed. Just a short walk from you villa you will find cute boutiques and gift shops selling everything from diamonds to spices. Mongoose Junction is a beautiful, multi-level, outdoor shopping plaza with jewelry stores, art galleries, clothing boutiques and cafes. You might want to get yourself the iconic St. John hook bracelet to remember your awesome vacation. While shopping, consider an ice cold beer at St John Brewer’s Tap Room, followed by a wonderful meal at one of the great restaurants.

Meet The Owners

We live in Wilmington, NC, but absolutely love our 2nd home purchased in 2008 on St. John. We have been traveling to St. John every year since 2001 and are excited every time we get to go back to our St. John escape.

Unique Benefits of Our Property

We couldn't find a better location on St. John that would give us both spectacular views and the convenience of being so close to town. Being able to walk everywhere means a lot to us. We don't always feel like we need to rent a jeep which is a plus. It is also nice not to have to worry about driving if you happen to have maybe one too many Painkillers:) Having a reserved parking space in the covered garage is a great benefit. No more parking hassles driving into Cruz Bay.
We love that we have a view of the water from every living area. We have sweeping views that we never tire of from the terrace. The terrace is furnished for outdoor dining and it is the perfect spot for sipping morning coffee and checking out all that is going on in the harbor. Cocktails while watching the unbelievable St. John sunsets are always a highlight of the day. We can't get over how easy it is to do everything we want on St. John starting right from our condo. It is so easy to get to all the shops, restaurants and bars. There are also hikes into the National Park we can take starting right from our place.

What Our Guests Say

"St. John Escape was everything we expected and more! You cannot beat this location. You are within walking distance of all of Cruz Bay’s shops and restaurants. From the first contact with the owners to our tearful good bye to St John our vacation was amazing. Not only does Grande Bay have the perfect location on St John, but the condo itself has some of the best views in the whole resort. Absolutely spectacular!"